It's going to be a strange year this year 25-26

[tenn_smoothie]

This is going to be a strange year. With Tatum maybe looming in the spring and a lot of pieces that could move. I'm not sure how this team will fit as a group. Joe will need to play more guys and change it up. Maybe try and play a lot of guys and run and play crazy fast like the Pacers last year... This is the first time in a while were I didn't reasonably know what to expect, not that what I expected happened every year but I had expectations. It could be fun if Joe really throws the kitchen sink in and tries a lot of different things. This team seems like one that Brad would be a better coach for but we will see!

Anyone would be a better coach for this team than Mazzulla. Sorry guys, I am just so frustrated by what I see as a championship era being wasted on an incompetent coach.
Yes, they won a title, but it was in spite of Mazzulla. The extension he was given after those two disastrous games in Boston to start the Knick series I cannot understand.
Those two 20-point blown leads at home and the stubborn way that Mazzulla doubled down on his insane offense was incredible in the worst sort of way.
How can Brad and ownership watch that and not see a serious problem ?

The one interesting thing right now is that Brad has a great opportunity to revamp this roster for a second title window after Tatum hopefully returns for '26-'27.
We need some healthy, athletic youth and some significant help on the interior to replace Horford and health-riddled Porzingis.
Glad we got out of the salary cap restrictions we were being penalized with for building a championship team the right way.

[slamtheking]

This is going to be a strange year. With Tatum maybe looming in the spring and a lot of pieces that could move. I'm not sure how this team will fit as a group. Joe will need to play more guys and change it up. Maybe try and play a lot of guys and run and play crazy fast like the Pacers last year... This is the first time in a while were I didn't reasonably know what to expect, not that what I expected happened every year but I had expectations. It could be fun if Joe really throws the kitchen sink in and tries a lot of different things. This team seems like one that Brad would be a better coach for but we will see!

Anyone would be a better coach for this team than Mazzulla. Sorry guys, I am just so frustrated by what I see as a championship era being wasted on an incompetent coach.
Yes, they won a title, but it was in spite of Mazzulla. The extension he was given after those two disastrous games in Boston to start the Knick series I cannot understand.
Those two 20-point blown leads at home and the stubborn way that Mazzulla doubled down on his insane offense was incredible in the worst sort of way.
How can Brad and ownership watch that and not see a serious problem ?

The one interesting thing right now is that Brad has a great opportunity to revamp this roster for a second title window after Tatum hopefully returns for '26-'27.
We need some healthy, athletic youth and some significant help on the interior to replace Horford and health-riddled Porzingis.
Glad we got out of the salary cap restrictions we were being penalized with for building a championship team the right way.

"great" how?  sure he's no longer over the second apron but the cupboard of tradable assets is paltry, we have no spare first round picks to use in trade (and are going to have to swap picks with SA in that deal for White so we'll very likely have a worse pick from SA) and we're not below the cap where we can contend for signing any top FAs.  The only 2 hopes for landing decent players are a trade of Simons and using the TPE from the Zinger trade.  I don't see the C's landing an all-star or prime front court player with either of those.

[celticinorlando]

Love the positivity that they finish in the top 6 but with this front court and bench they are an 8, 9 or 10 seed.

[Phantom255x]

(ignore)

[Phantom255x]

(ignore - sorry idk why it triple posted lol)

[Phantom255x]

[Vermont Green]

This is going to be a strange year. With Tatum maybe looming in the spring and a lot of pieces that could move. I'm not sure how this team will fit as a group. Joe will need to play more guys and change it up. Maybe try and play a lot of guys and run and play crazy fast like the Pacers last year... This is the first time in a while were I didn't reasonably know what to expect, not that what I expected happened every year but I had expectations. It could be fun if Joe really throws the kitchen sink in and tries a lot of different things. This team seems like one that Brad would be a better coach for but we will see!

Anyone would be a better coach for this team than Mazzulla. Sorry guys, I am just so frustrated by what I see as a championship era being wasted on an incompetent coach.
Yes, they won a title, but it was in spite of Mazzulla. The extension he was given after those two disastrous games in Boston to start the Knick series I cannot understand.
Those two 20-point blown leads at home and the stubborn way that Mazzulla doubled down on his insane offense was incredible in the worst sort of way.
How can Brad and ownership watch that and not see a serious problem ?

The one interesting thing right now is that Brad has a great opportunity to revamp this roster for a second title window after Tatum hopefully returns for '26-'27.
We need some healthy, athletic youth and some significant help on the interior to replace Horford and health-riddled Porzingis.
Glad we got out of the salary cap restrictions we were being penalized with for building a championship team the right way.

"great" how?  sure he's no longer over the second apron but the cupboard of tradable assets is paltry, we have no spare first round picks to use in trade (and are going to have to swap picks with SA in that deal for White so we'll very likely have a worse pick from SA) and we're not below the cap where we can contend for signing any top FAs.  The only 2 hopes for landing decent players are a trade of Simons and using the TPE from the Zinger trade.  I don't see the C's landing an all-star or prime front court player with either of those.

I guess I don't know what the opportunity is either.  Our core is Tatum, Brown, White.  If by revamp, you mean to trade a core player, then sure, I guess that opportunity exists, but I don't see it, at least not this season.  Then if you are not trading anyone from the core, that pretty much leaves Anfernee "I could play defense if I wanted to" Simons.

I am not as down on Simons as most.  An athletic young player who has consistently scored 20 ppg for the last 3 or 4 seasons.   Who apparently, it never occurred to him to actually try to play defense.  If he starts trying on defense, and continues to score, he will have some trade value, or maybe earns himself a role on the team moving forward.

[Who]

I still see a lot of Jason Terry in Anfernee Simons. Same strengths. Same flaws. Both the good and the bad of Jason Terry.

Terry was certainly a useful player. A key cog in a perennial title contender. A major contributor on a title winner in 2011.

Anfernee Simons is a flawed player for sure but he isn't a bum. The guy has quality.

[slamtheking]

This is going to be a strange year. With Tatum maybe looming in the spring and a lot of pieces that could move. I'm not sure how this team will fit as a group. Joe will need to play more guys and change it up. Maybe try and play a lot of guys and run and play crazy fast like the Pacers last year... This is the first time in a while were I didn't reasonably know what to expect, not that what I expected happened every year but I had expectations. It could be fun if Joe really throws the kitchen sink in and tries a lot of different things. This team seems like one that Brad would be a better coach for but we will see!

Anyone would be a better coach for this team than Mazzulla. Sorry guys, I am just so frustrated by what I see as a championship era being wasted on an incompetent coach.
Yes, they won a title, but it was in spite of Mazzulla. The extension he was given after those two disastrous games in Boston to start the Knick series I cannot understand.
Those two 20-point blown leads at home and the stubborn way that Mazzulla doubled down on his insane offense was incredible in the worst sort of way.
How can Brad and ownership watch that and not see a serious problem ?

The one interesting thing right now is that Brad has a great opportunity to revamp this roster for a second title window after Tatum hopefully returns for '26-'27.
We need some healthy, athletic youth and some significant help on the interior to replace Horford and health-riddled Porzingis.
Glad we got out of the salary cap restrictions we were being penalized with for building a championship team the right way.

"great" how?  sure he's no longer over the second apron but the cupboard of tradable assets is paltry, we have no spare first round picks to use in trade (and are going to have to swap picks with SA in that deal for White so we'll very likely have a worse pick from SA) and we're not below the cap where we can contend for signing any top FAs.  The only 2 hopes for landing decent players are a trade of Simons and using the TPE from the Zinger trade.  I don't see the C's landing an all-star or prime front court player with either of those.

I guess I don't know what the opportunity is either.  Our core is Tatum, Brown, White.  If by revamp, you mean to trade a core player, then sure, I guess that opportunity exists, but I don't see it, at least not this season.  Then if you are not trading anyone from the core, that pretty much leaves Anfernee "I could play defense if I wanted to" Simons.

I am not as down on Simons as most.  An athletic young player who has consistently scored 20 ppg for the last 3 or 4 seasons.   Who apparently, it never occurred to him to actually try to play defense.  If he starts trying on defense, and continues to score, he will have some trade value, or maybe earns himself a role on the team moving forward.

unless they land a lottery pick at the end of this year, they're looking at a decent core but not enough assets to add much better talent to it.  Simons isn't worth nothing but unless he shows he can play solid D, his value won't be a lot.  Brad will likely have to make sideways moves where hopefully the assets will complement the core better.  maybe he gets lucky with being able to use Zinger's TPE but I'd be shocked.  if anything, trade Simons for someone that goes into that TPE and push forward that new TPE from Simons going out for another year.

[Moranis]

I still believe the team should trade Brown. Best way to get the assets needed to build another contender because Tatum, Brown, and White is not good enough especially with what the rest of the roster will look like (the only caveat is winning the lottery this year). Boston has no real way to get better except late 1st round picks after this next draft.  Trading Brown will allow the team to get younger and more draft picks, and will also allow a full tank this year to cash in on what is supposed to be a draft filled with high end prospects at the top. Boston needs 1 of those guys to have any chance at winning again in the near term.

[boscel33]

I still believe the team should trade Brown. Best way to get the assets needed to build another contender because Tatum, Brown, and White is not good enough especially with what the rest of the roster will look like (the only caveat is winning the lottery this year). Boston has no real way to get better except late 1st round picks after this next draft.  Trading Brown will allow the team to get younger and more draft picks, and will also allow a full tank this year to cash in on what is supposed to be a draft filled with high end prospects at the top. Boston needs 1 of those guys to have any chance at winning again in the near term.

ATL is the team.  Brown is on record as wanting to someday play for the hometown team.  What is the package back, IDK, one idea I saw, in multiple places, had us sending Brown for Johnson, Risacher, and a 2029 1st.  Anyway, for now I'm still in the JKJB, but understand if he was traded.

[Vermont Green]

I still believe the team should trade Brown. Best way to get the assets needed to build another contender because Tatum, Brown, and White is not good enough especially with what the rest of the roster will look like (the only caveat is winning the lottery this year). Boston has no real way to get better except late 1st round picks after this next draft.  Trading Brown will allow the team to get younger and more draft picks, and will also allow a full tank this year to cash in on what is supposed to be a draft filled with high end prospects at the top. Boston needs 1 of those guys to have any chance at winning again in the near term.

To me, it comes down to what are you trading Brown for.  If it is for good players that you can put around Tatum in 2026, great.  If it is for draft picks who might be good by 2028, maybe, you are sacrificing years of Tatum's window.  That makes no sense to me.  You may as well trade Tatum too.

[liam]

Moving players is getting harder and harder... If you have a really good player in his prime you need to hold on to him like grim death...

[tenn_smoothie]

This is going to be a strange year. With Tatum maybe looming in the spring and a lot of pieces that could move. I'm not sure how this team will fit as a group. Joe will need to play more guys and change it up. Maybe try and play a lot of guys and run and play crazy fast like the Pacers last year... This is the first time in a while were I didn't reasonably know what to expect, not that what I expected happened every year but I had expectations. It could be fun if Joe really throws the kitchen sink in and tries a lot of different things. This team seems like one that Brad would be a better coach for but we will see!

Anyone would be a better coach for this team than Mazzulla. Sorry guys, I am just so frustrated by what I see as a championship era being wasted on an incompetent coach.
Yes, they won a title, but it was in spite of Mazzulla. The extension he was given after those two disastrous games in Boston to start the Knick series I cannot understand.
Those two 20-point blown leads at home and the stubborn way that Mazzulla doubled down on his insane offense was incredible in the worst sort of way.
How can Brad and ownership watch that and not see a serious problem ?

The one interesting thing right now is that Brad has a great opportunity to revamp this roster for a second title window after Tatum hopefully returns for '26-'27.
We need some healthy, athletic youth and some significant help on the interior to replace Horford and health-riddled Porzingis.
Glad we got out of the salary cap restrictions we were being penalized with for building a championship team the right way.

"great" how?  sure he's no longer over the second apron but the cupboard of tradable assets is paltry, we have no spare first round picks to use in trade (and are going to have to swap picks with SA in that deal for White so we'll very likely have a worse pick from SA) and we're not below the cap where we can contend for signing any top FAs.  The only 2 hopes for landing decent players are a trade of Simons and using the TPE from the Zinger trade.  I don't see the C's landing an all-star or prime front court player with either of those.

I guess I don't know what the opportunity is either.  Our core is Tatum, Brown, White.  If by revamp, you mean to trade a core player, then sure, I guess that opportunity exists, but I don't see it, at least not this season.  Then if you are not trading anyone from the core, that pretty much leaves Anfernee "I could play defense if I wanted to" Simons.

I am not as down on Simons as most.  An athletic young player who has consistently scored 20 ppg for the last 3 or 4 seasons.   Who apparently, it never occurred to him to actually try to play defense.  If he starts trying on defense, and continues to score, he will have some trade value, or maybe earns himself a role on the team moving forward.

OK, fair enough. So how did we go from title winners to mediocre with few options to recover in one year. Supposedly, we were going to have to shed some salary even before this season was lost with Tatum's injury. Was the plan just to compete for a title for two seasons (2024 & 2025) and then rebuild anyway ? What was the plan if Tatum was still healthy ? Just keep everybody and pay through the nose and maybe get another title ? Possibly it was, though as I mentioned, Mazzulla took care of that chance with his idiotic offense.

[Moranis]

I still believe the team should trade Brown. Best way to get the assets needed to build another contender because Tatum, Brown, and White is not good enough especially with what the rest of the roster will look like (the only caveat is winning the lottery this year). Boston has no real way to get better except late 1st round picks after this next draft.  Trading Brown will allow the team to get younger and more draft picks, and will also allow a full tank this year to cash in on what is supposed to be a draft filled with high end prospects at the top. Boston needs 1 of those guys to have any chance at winning again in the near term.

To me, it comes down to what are you trading Brown for.  If it is for good players that you can put around Tatum in 2026, great.  If it is for draft picks who might be good by 2028, maybe, you are sacrificing years of Tatum's window.  That makes no sense to me.  You may as well trade Tatum too.

high level draft picks have actual and real trade value though. 1 too 5 pick is worth more than several late 1st round picks.

This Houston trade I'd consider

Brown, Tillman

for

VanVleet, Sheppard, Adams, Eason, Tate, 27 1st (2 most favorable of BOS, BKN, PHX), 29 1st, 31 1st

That is a draft picks centered trade, but Sheppard has talent and VV and Adams would be good with Tatum in 26-27 or could be the salary along with the draft picks for a star. 

Atlanta is another realistic trade possibility with Johnson, Risacher, and a future 1st or something like that. 

I'm sure there are others that make sense that can keep Boston in it or provide the assets that can be used to keep Boston in it.

For me, I just think this run is over with this group unless they win the lottery this year (which will be hard without trading Brown)